Calibrating a phono cartridge

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One of the basic steps that we must perform before playing vinyl records is to carefully calibrate the cartridge. This is not only very important for the quality of the reproduced analog signal, but also for the safety of the discs and the durability of the stylus itself. Simply put, the correct calibration of the cartridge will allow us to enjoy the long use of our playing equipment and minimize the risk of damaging the disc.

How do I set the needle contact angle and pressure force?

In most models, this operation is very similar, similar to each other, so we will try to present one of the most universal ways of setting. To perform the calibration, we will need: a template with a special scale, which should be attached by the manufacturer of the turntable, a wrench for screwing and unscrewing the screws holding the cartridge, and as an addition to facilitate calibration, I suggest using adhesive tape and a thin graphite cartridge. Before adjusting the angle of the needle, we must make sure that our arm is properly positioned. It is all about adjusting the height of the arm, correct balance and level. Then set the pressure on the needle. Information on the force with which the needle should be pressed can be found in the specification attached by the manufacturer of the insert. The next step will be to remove the cover from the needle and, using the adhesive tape, attach the graphite insert to the front of the insert, which will become the forehead presentation. After fixing our graphite insert, install the template that was attached by the manufacturer on the axis of the plate. This template has a special scale with points.

The calibration itself consists in the fact that, after lowering the needle, the position of the front of the insert is parallel to the two designated points on the template. As the needle itself and the insert are a small element, it is good for a larger field of view to attach the above-mentioned graphic insert, which will be able to optically overlap the scale line on the template. If our graphic insert will not coincide with the lines on the template, it means that we have to change the position of our insert by slightly changing its position. Of course, the screws must be loosened to adjust the position of the insert. We carry out this operation until the front of the insert, the extension of which is our graphic insert, is exactly in line with the lines on the template.

The ideal position of the insert angle must be the same on the two sections of our template, which marks the beginning and end of the plate. If, for example, our insert is well positioned on one of the sections, and there are some deviations on the other, it means that we have to move our insert, e.g. backwards. Once we set our cartridge at the perfect level to two reference points, at the end we have to finally tighten it with screws. Here, too, this operation must be performed in a very skillful and gentle way, so that our insert does not change its position when tightening the screws. Of course, after tightening the screws, we check the position of our cartridge on the template again and when everything is well positioned, we can start listening to our records. It is worth checking this state of settings from time to time and, if necessary, make some corrections.

Accurately setting the angle of the needle to the plate is quite a tedious operation that requires dedication and patience. However, it is worth doing this with the greatest possible accuracy. A well-adjusted cartridge means better sound quality and a longer life of the needle and plates. Especially beginning music lovers need to be patient, but the longer you stay in the world of analog music, the more fun these technical duties become. And just like for some audiophiles, the preparation of the disc itself is a kind of ritual and a great pleasure, starting from putting on gloves, taking the discs out of the packaging, wiping it from the dust and placing it on the plate, and then placing the arm and firing it, so is the activity related to adjusting our equipment can give us a lot of satisfaction.